Apparatus for facilitating the handling of billets

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for facilitating billet handling wherein the billet or slug is formed by pouring the molten material into a water-cooled mold having a pair of arcuate-shaped indentations for receiving the jaws of a slug-pulling assembly removably mounted within the indentations prior to filling the mold with the molten material. The slug-pulling assembly is lifted upwardly from the mold as soon as the molten material has cooled, causing the small cleats formed within the slug-pulling assembly jaws to firmly grip the slug, enabling the slug to be lifted out of the mold and transported to the next operation. The slug-pulling assembly is provided with an eyelet member to facilitate releasable mounting of a lifting hook.

United States Patent Joseph F. Bauman Trenton, NJ.;

John E. Karlberg, Wycombe, Pa.; Edward C. Rouze, Trenton, NJ.

Oct. 1 l, 1968 Mar. 2, 1971 Acme-Hamilton Manufacturing Corporation Trenton, N .J

Inventors Appl. No Filed Patented Assignee APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING TI-IE HANDLING OF BILLETS 6 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 164/213, 164/405, 249/197 Int. Cl. B22d 29/04 Field of Search 164/ l 3 1,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,039,725 10/1912 Gathmann 164/405X 3,060,531 10/1962 Maring 164/405 3,189,960 6/1965 Bright 164/131 Primary ExaminerJ. Spencer Overholser Assistant Examiner-John E. Roethel Attorney-Ostrolenk, Faber, Gerb & Soffen ABSTRACT: Apparatus for facilitating billet handling wherein the billet or slug is formed by pouring the molten material into a water-cooled mold having a pair of arcuateshaped indentations for receiving the jaws of a slug-pulling assembly removably mounted within the indentations prior to filling the mold with the molten material. The slug-pulling assembly is lifted upwardly from the mold as soon as the molten material has cooled, causing the small cleats formed within the slug-pulling assembly jaws to firmly grip the slug, enabling the slug to be lifted out of the mold and transported to the next operation. The slug-pulling assembly is provided with an eyelet member to facilitate releasable mounting of a lifting hook.

PATENTEUHAR 21911 3566953 SHEET R []F 4 APPARATUS limit FACHLITATKNG Tll-llE HANDLING F hilLLlETS The present invention relates to billet and slug-forming and handling techniques, and more particularly to a novel method and apparatus to facilitate the forming, handling and moving of slugs.

Slug-forming and slug-handling techniques are employed throughout a wide variety of industrial applications. In one typical example in the extrusion field, it is common to form slugs of a predetermined configuration physically adapted for use in the extruding machine. The slugs, after forming, are transported to the extruding machine .where they are then sequentially inserted into the extruding machine for forming the extruded member. Any excess material remaining after each slug is extruded is again melted down and poured into the mold to form a new slug. This method eliminates any waste in the extruding process. ln'such extruding operations, the slugs are commonly formed at a location somewhat remote from the extruding machine. The slugs, once formed and cooled are then lifted out of the mold and transported to the extruding machine.

Since the slugs are usually quite large and hence quite heavy, it is important'to provide materials handling equipment capable of lifting the slug from the mold and transporting the slug to the extruding equipment in a safe manner and without unnecessary waste of time.

One technique which has been conventionally employed is to provide a large eyebolt whose threaded portion is inserted into the molten material after pouring the molten material into the mold. Additional molten material is then added into the mold to compensate for partial shrinkage which accompanies the cooling of the billet. The eyebolt is provided with a threaded portion which projects downwardly into the mold so as to be immersed into the molten material when the mold is completely filled. The top portion of the eyebolt is provided with an eye or opening for receiving a lifting hook. Once the mold is filled to the top with molten material and is satisfactorily cooled, the material completely surrounds and embraces the threaded portion of the eyebolt, allowing the slug to be lifted from the mold by an overhead conveyor supporting the lifting hook. The overhead conveyor may extend from the molding site to the extruding machine where the slugs are inserted one at a time into the extruding machine.

Before entering the extruding machine, the eyebolt must be removed from the slug which it has transported to the site of the extruding equipment. This is carried out by positioning the slug over a supporting surface and then removing the eyebolt from the slug which normally requires a large mallet or other heavy instrument in order to unscrew the eyebolt.

it is most important that the slug inserted into the extruding equipment be free of any voids to guarantee safe and proper operation of the extruding equipment. It is, therefore, necessary, after removal of the eyebolt, to fill the hole left by the removed eyebolt with molten material which must then be cooled before the slug can be ultimately inserted into the extruding equipment. it can therefore be seen that the operations of removing the eyebolt and filling the void or hole left by the eyebolt are quite tedious and time consuming.

The present invention is characterized by providing a novel mold and slug-pulling apparatus which eliminates the above disadvantages and thereby expedites the forming and handling of slugs which may be employed in extruding or other operations wherein it is desired to provide a slug of substantially smooth surface configuration and which is free of any voids whatsoever, except for very small indentations formed by the cleats of the slug-pulling assembly.

The present invention is comprised of a mold adapted for receiving the molten material from which the slug is formed. The preferred embodiment is adapted to form a cylindricalshaped, elongated slug by means of a cylindrical-shaped preferably water-cooled mold assembly. The mold opening is provided at its upper end with a pair of arcuate-shaped diametrically opposed openings which are adapted to receive the jaws of a slug-pulling assembly which are inserted into the arcuate-shaped openings prior to the time at which the molten material is poured into the mold. The jaws of the slugpulling assembly are bent or otherwise formed inwardly near their upper ends and are each pivotally coupled by suitable pin means to an eyelet member. The surfaces of the jaw members forming the upper portion of the mold. opening are contoured so that their radius of curvature is substantially identical to the radius of curvature of the mold opening in order to form a substantially cylindrical surface about the upper portion of the slug. A plurality of small cleats are formed in the contoured surfaces to facilitate gripping of the slug.

Upon cooling, the slug-puller'eyelet is lifted by a suitable lifting hook suspended from an overhead conveyor apparatus to pull or lift the slug from the mold. The weight of the slug acts to pull the jaws of the slug-pulling: assembly downwardly, thereby firmly embracing the upper end of the slug between the jaws of the slug-pulling assembly.

Once the slug has cleared the top portion of the mold, the overhead conveyor assembly may then move the slug to the desired location in readiness for subsequent operations. In the case where the slug is to be inserted into extruding equipment, the slug may be lifted into the loading position wherein it is supported upon a suitable loading surface immediately adjacent the extruding equipment. Once suitably supported, the overhead conveyor apparatus may be lowered slightly to release tension from the slug-pulling assembly which may be simply and readily separated from the slug without any exertion or special purpose tools. The slug formed in this manner is substantially free of any significant voids, thereby eliminating the need for filling any voids prior to extrusion of the slug which, therefore, simplifies and shortens the slug-forming, handling and delivery operations.

in those applications where it is desired to adapt or modify already existing molds to accommodate the slug-pulling assembly of the present invention, a mold extension may be mounted upon the top of existing molds. The mold extension is secured to the top of an existing mold by suitable fastening means, and is provided with the arcuate-shaped openings for receiving the jaws of the slug-pulling assembly. The mold extension is provided with a hollow cavity for cooling the upper extension. In cases where it is either desired or required that the overall height of the slug be preserved, a disc-shaped filler member may be force-fitted into the bottom of the existing mold, which member has a thicknessequal to the height of the mold extension and thereby retains the overall height of the slug to be equal to the height of a slug which would otherwise be formedby the original mold.

It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide a novel method and apparatus for facilitating the removal and handling of slugs by providing a novel slug-pulling assembly removably positioned within the upper end of the mold prior to insertion of the molten material into the mold to thereby form a slug which is totally free of any voids and which may be quickly and easily removed from the mold simply by lifting the slug-pulling assembly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel method and apparatus for facilitating the formation, removal, transportation and subsequent handling of slugs which is comprised of a novel slug-pulling assembly removably positioned within a mold extension assembly adapted to be fitted upon already existing molds wherein the slug-pulling assembly is removably positioned within the mold extension prior to pouring of the molten material, thereby enabling the slug, upon cooling, to be quickly and easily removed from the mold simply by lifting the slug-pulling assembly.

These as well as other objects of the present invention will become apparent when reading the accompanying description and drawings in which:

FIG. la is an elevational view of the slug-puller assembly of the present invention;

FlG. 1b shows a top view of the slug-puller assembly of FIG. 1a;

FIG. 2a shows an elevational view of a mold assembly incorporating the slug-puller assembly of FIGS. la and lb;

H61. 21; shows a top view of the assembly of FIG. 2a;

FiG. 3a shows a top view of a mold extension assembly adapted for use with the slug-puller of FIGS. 1a and lb;

FIG. 3b shows a sectional view of the mold extension of FIG. 30. looking in the direction of arrows 3b-3b' FIG. is an elevational view of a mold assembly employing the slug-puller assembly of FIGS. in and lb and the mold extension assembly of FlGS. 3a and 3b; and

FIG. db shows a top view of the assembly of FIG. 4a.

The slug-puller assembly iii of the present invention is shown best in FIGS. la and 1b, and is comprised of a pair of jaws ii and $12, each welded to an associated arm 13 and 14, respectively. Each of the jaws ii and 112 are substantially semicircular-shaped members, as can best be seen from a consideration of FIG. ib. Their opposing surfaces lib and 12b are likewise curvilinear, and are provided with curved surfaces having a much greater radius of curvature than their rear curved surfaces lila and 12a, respectively. The front surfaces ill) and 1212 are further provided with a plurality of chordshaped sections 15-17 (provided on jaw member 11) and l8- 2@ (provided on jaw member l2). Each of the chord-shaped sections is defined by a horizontally aligned surface 15a-20a and a diagonally aligned surface 151'2-20b which intersects the horizontally aligned surface to form a sharp edge or cleat which facilitates gripping of the formed slug in a manner to be more fully described.

Although the jaws ii and 12 are shown as being welded to their associated arms 13 and 14, respectively, at the welds 21, it should be understood that the assemblies ill-i3 and l2- -l4 may be one-piece members, if desired, or may be twopiece members joined by any other fastening arrangement.

Arm i3 is provided with a slot 13a at its right-hand end which is positioned between two arm portions i3b and 13c, each of which portion is provided with an opening 13d and 232, respectively, which openings are of the same diameter and have their longitudinal axes colinear with phantom line 22. Similarly, arm id is provided with a slot 1 4a positioned between two arm portions 14b and Me which are likewise provided with openings Md and Me having diameters equal to the openings 13d and Elie and having their longitudinal axes colinear with phantom line 22.

An eyelet member 23 provided with a large opening 24 is tapered at its lower portion along the edges 23a and 2312. An opening 23c of equal diameter to openings 13d, l3e, 14d and lde is provided near the lower end of the eyelet member so that its central axis is colinear with phantom line 22. The three members 13, M and 23 are free to pivot by means of an elongated pin 25 inserted through the openings 13d, 14d, 230, 13s and Me. A pair of retaining rings 26 and 27 are fitted into grooves 25a and 2512, respectively, for the purpose of retaining the pin 25 within the above-mentioned colinear openings. The pin 25 may be beveled at 25c and 25d, respectively, to facilitate mounting of the retaining rings. Although a pivot pin employing retaining rings has been shown as the means for pivoting the jaws to the eye member, obviously any other pin means or fastening means may be employed.

FIGS. 2a and 2b show the manner in which the slug-puller assembly is releasably positioned within the mold.

The embodiment 30 of FIGS. 2a and 2b is comprised of a mold having inner and outer walls 31. and 32 for receiving water in the hollow space 33 between the walls for the purpose of cooling the molten material. The mold may be firmly secured to a suitable supporting surface by means of a retaining ring 34 surrounding the mold and which, in turn, is secured to base 3b by fastening means 36 which are arranged at spaced intervals around the bottom portion of the mold. The mold is provided with an opening 37 whose height and diameter are defined by the inner wall 31 of the mold. The top portion of the mold is provided with a pair of arcuate-shaped cutouts 3b and 39 which extend downwardly to a predetermined depth defined by a pair of shoulders or ledges 40 and 4t, respectively.

The mold is used in the following manner:

The slug-puller assembly is positioned upon the upper end of the mold by placing its jaws ill and 12 into the arcuateshaped notches 3 and 39, respectively, until the bottom edgesof the jaws 1i and 12 rest upon the shoulders 40 and 41, respectively. The mold is then filled with the molten material which is cooled by means of circulating a coolant such as water through the internal space 33 between the inner and outer walls 31 and 32 of the mold. when the molten material has cooled sufficiently, the slug formed within the mold is lifted out of the mold by placing a lifting hook through the opening 24 in eyelet member 23 and lifting the eyelet in the vertically upward direction shown by arrow 42. The weight of the mold pulls the jaws ill and i2 downwardly, causing them to pivot about pin 25 in the counterclockwise and clockwise directions as shown by arrows 33 and M, respectively. This pivoting action causes the jaws ii and 12 to more firmly grip the slug as it is lifted. The sheer weight of the slug acts to firmly secure the slug-puller assembly 10 to the slug. The lifting and holding ability of the slug-puller assembly is further enhanced by the cleats 15-17 and l3-2tl provided in each of the jaws 1i and 12, respectively.

The lifting hook which may be mounted to an overhead conveyor system (not shown) may then deliver the slug to the next processing location. The slug may then be lowered to a supporting surface to remove the holding force of the slugpuller assembly which then simply releases its grip from the slug at which time the slug-puller jaws ii and 12 will pivot slightly in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions as shown by arrows 45 and 46, causing the slug puller to completely release its grip from the slug without the need for any special purpose tools and only slight exertion on the part of the operator. A slug formed in this manner will be completely free of voids with the minor exception of the slight indentations provided on the circumferential surface of the slug in the immediate vicinity of the bottom portions of jaw members ii and 12. Such slugs may be immediately inserted into extruding equipment without the need for any intermediate operation of pouring molten material in the voids prior to the time at which the slug'is extruded thus greatly speeding up the slug-forming, pulling and subsequent handling operations.

In those applications wherein it is desired to adapt conventional molds for use with the slug-pulling assembly the alternative embodiment of FIGS. 3a, 357,411 and 4b may be utilized.

FIGS. 3a and 3b show in detail a mold extension assembly provided for adapting existing molds to accommodate the slug-pulling assembly. As shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b the mold extension 50 is comprised of a substantially ring-shaped member having inner and outer walls 52 and 51. in the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b the inner wall 52 is provided with two outwardly directed flanges 53 and 54. Outer wall 51 which is a substantially ring-shaped member is then welded to the peripheries of flanges 53 and 5 s as shown by the welds 55'which completely surround and seal the seams therebetween. The inner and outer walls 52 and 51 and circular-shaped flanges 53 and 54 define a hollow interior space 56 having a first opening 57 for receiving a coupling 58 and having a second opening 59 diametrically opposed to opening 57 for receiving a coupling 64). Both couplings are preferably welded to outer wall $11 by the welds in. The couplings, in turn, may be coupled to suitable hoses (not shown) forming part of a continuously circulating cooling system for introducing a coolant such as, for example, water, into the hollow interior space 56.

Inner wall 52 is machined or otherwise formed to provide a pair of arcuate-shaped cutouts 62 and 63 whose base portions are defined by ledges or shoulders 64 and 65, respectively. The mold extension is further provided with a pair of openings 67 and 68 for receiving suitable fastening means (not shown} for the purpose of securing the mold extension to an already existing mold assembly which is shown best in FlGS. do and 4b.

The modified mold slug-puller of H65. 4n and db is comprised of a water-cooled mold portion 71 substantially similar to the mold assembly 30 of FIGS. 2a and 2b. The mold extension 5b is secured to the top of the mold assembly by suitable fastening means (not shown) which are passed through openings 67 and 6b in the mold extension and which threadedly engage the top of the conventional mold portion "ifl.

in operation, the slug puller assembly 10 is positioned so that the bottom portions of its jaw members ll and 12 are supported by the shoulders 6d and b5. Themolten material may then be pouredand is cooled by means of introducing a coolant into the water-cooled mold portion 71 and the mold extension Sd. As soon as the molten material has sufficiently cooled, the slug puller l0 may be lifted vertically upward in the same manner as was previously described to remove the slug from the mold and deliver it to the next processing location. The mold assembly 70 will form a slug substantially identical to that formed by the mold assembly 30 of FIGS. 2a and 2b in that the slug will be totally free of any voids and have a smooth, continuous surface except for the minor indentations formed by the cleats provided on each of the jaws which act to enhance lifting and transportation of the slug to the next processing location.

Since the addition of the mold extension50 to the conventional mold assembly '71 increases the height of the slug, a disc 72 may be inserted into the base of mold 71 if it is desired to form a slug whose height is equal to the height of the slug that would otherwise be formed in the absence of the mold extension. Obviously, the disc-shaped member'72 should be of a thickness equal to the height of the mold extension. The discshaped member 72 may be inserted by cooling the disc-shaped member and then force fitting it into the base of mold portion 71 and then allowing the disc to return to ambient temperature to provide a good force fit at the bottom of the mold. 0bviously, the disc-shaped member 72 may be omitted if the height of the formed slug is not crucial.

The slug puller and mold assembly of the present invention may be employed to form slugs of any material. Exhaustive experimentation has shown that the present invention is extremely advantageous for use in forming lead slugs. The slugs formed using the apparatus of the present invention weighed more than 1000 lbs. and were found to be easily lifted from the molds by the slug-puller assembly 10 and transported to subsequent processing locations without incident. The slugpulling assembly was highly effective in lifting the slugs out of 5 the mold and transporting them by overhead conveyor means. Once delivered to the next processing location, the slugpulling assemblies were found to release themselves from the slugs as soon as tension was removed from the eyelet member 23 and with only very slight exertion on the part of the operator.

it can therefore be seen from the foregoing description that the present invention provides a novel slug-forming, pulling and handling assembly capable of forming slugs having substantially smooth exterior surfaces and being completely free of voids, thereby greatly enhancing the use of such slugs in extruding equipment.

Although the embodiments described herein are concerned with the formation of elongated cylindrical-shaped slugs, it should be understood that the invention can be employed to form slugs of any shape and height such as, for example, for angularshaped slugs, rectangular-shaped slugs, square-shaped slugs, hexagonal-shaped slugs, and so forth. in the case where rectangular or multisided slugs are to be formed, the curve or linear surfaces Illlb and 12b of the slug-pulling assembly jaw members may be modified so as to conform to the surface configuration of the slug and would preferably be aligned to engage the slug along two diametrically opposed vertical edges of the slug in order to preserve the continuity and form of the slug outer surface near its upper end.

Although there has been described a preferred embodiment of this novel invention, many variations and modifications will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, this invention is to be limited, not by the specific disclosure herein, but only bythe appending claims.

We claim:

1. An assembly for handling slugs and other similarly formed objects comprising:

first and second jaw members;

first and second arms, a first end of each arm being secured to a first end of an associated jaw member;

each arm being aligned to form an angle of at least with its associated jaw member;

a rigid member having means sufficient for readily supporting a lifting member;

pin means for pivotally mounting said rigid member and the second ends of said first and second arms so that said rigid members are all free to pivot about said pin means;

the gripping surfaces of said jaw members being shaped to substantially conform to the outer. surface of the slug to be lifted; said, jaws being aligned. substantially in spaced parallel fashion on diametrically opposed sides of the slug when the slug is being lifted;

a mold open at the top end for receiving the material to be formed into a slug;

a pair of recesses beingprovided at the top end of said mold on diametrically opposed sides of said mold and immediately adjacent the opening; the lower end of each recess being defined by a supporting ledge;

said jaw members being shaped to fit into said recesses with each of their bottom edges being supported by an as sociated one of said ledges; and

said gripping surfaces cooperating with the interior surface of said mold immediately adjacent said recesses to maintain the surface continuity of the slug formed in said mold over the entire length of said slug.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said mold is adapted to form a cylindrical-shaped slug; the radius of curvature of said gripping surfaces being substantially equal to the radius of curvature of said mold opening.

3. An assembly for handling slugs and other similarly formed objects comprising:

first and second jaw members;

first and second arms, a first end of each arm being secured to a first end of an associated jaw member;

each arm being aligned to form an angle of at least 90 with its associated jaw member;

a rigid member having means sufficient for readily supporting a lifting member;

pin means for pivotally mounting said rigid member and the second ends of said first and second arms so that said rigid members are all free to pivot about said pin means;

the gripping surfaces of said jaw members being shaped to substantially conform to the outer surface of the slug to be lifted; said jaws being aligned substantially in spaced parallel fashion on diametrically opposed sides of the slug when the slug is vbeing lifted;

a mold extension for adapting conventional open end molds to accommodate the slug-handling assembly, said extension comprising an annular-shaped metallic member hav ing a central opening conforming to the opening of the conventional mold which receives the material to be molded;

fastening means for securing said extension to the top surface of the conventional mold;

a pair of recesses being provided at the top end of said mold extension on diametrically opposed sides of said extension and immediately adjacent to the central opening;

the lower end of each recess being defined by a supporting ledge;

said jaw members being shaped to fit into said recesses with each of their bottom edges being supported by an associated one of said ledges; and

said gripping surfaces cooperating with the interior surface of said mold immediately adjacent said recesses to maintain the surface continuity of the slug formed in said mold over the entire length of said slug.

d. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said mold is adapted to form a cylindrical-shaped slug; the radius of curvature of said therethrough.

6. The assembly of claim ll wherein said mold is provided with a hollow chamber whose shape conforms generally to the opening in said mold and surrounding the opening of said mold and having inlet and outlet ports to permit a coolant to be passed therethrough. 

1. An assembly for handling slugs and other similarly formed objects comprising: first and second jaw members; first and second arms, a first end of each arm being secured to a first end of an associated jaw member; each arm being aligned to form an angle of at least 90* with its associated jaw member; a rigid member having means sufficient for readily supporting a lifting member; pin means for pivotally mounting said rigid member and the second ends of said first and second arms so that said rigid members are all free to pivot about said pin means; the gripping surfaces of said jaw members being shaped to substantially conform to the outer surface of the slug to be lifted; said jaws being aligned substantially in spaced parallel fashion on diametrically opposed sides of the slug when the slug is being lifted; a mold open at the top end for receiving the material to be formed into a slug; a pair of recesSes being provided at the top end of said mold on diametrically opposed sides of said mold and immediately adjacent the opening; the lower end of each recess being defined by a supporting ledge; said jaw members being shaped to fit into said recesses with each of their bottom edges being supported by an associated one of said ledges; and said gripping surfaces cooperating with the interior surface of said mold immediately adjacent said recesses to maintain the surface continuity of the slug formed in said mold over the entire length of said slug.
 2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said mold is adapted to form a cylindrical-shaped slug; the radius of curvature of said gripping surfaces being substantially equal to the radius of curvature of said mold opening.
 3. An assembly for handling slugs and other similarly formed objects comprising: first and second jaw members; first and second arms, a first end of each arm being secured to a first end of an associated jaw member; each arm being aligned to form an angle of at least 90* with its associated jaw member; a rigid member having means sufficient for readily supporting a lifting member; pin means for pivotally mounting said rigid member and the second ends of said first and second arms so that said rigid members are all free to pivot about said pin means; the gripping surfaces of said jaw members being shaped to substantially conform to the outer surface of the slug to be lifted; said jaws being aligned substantially in spaced parallel fashion on diametrically opposed sides of the slug when the slug is being lifted; a mold extension for adapting conventional open end molds to accommodate the slug-handling assembly, said extension comprising an annular-shaped metallic member having a central opening conforming to the opening of the conventional mold which receives the material to be molded; fastening means for securing said extension to the top surface of the conventional mold; a pair of recesses being provided at the top end of said mold extension on diametrically opposed sides of said extension and immediately adjacent to the central opening; the lower end of each recess being defined by a supporting ledge; said jaw members being shaped to fit into said recesses with each of their bottom edges being supported by an associated one of said ledges; and said gripping surfaces cooperating with the interior surface of said mold immediately adjacent said recesses to maintain the surface continuity of the slug formed in said mold over the entire length of said slug.
 4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said mold is adapted to form a cylindrical-shaped slug; the radius of curvature of said gripping surfaces being substantially equal to the radius of curvature of said mold opening and said mold extension central opening.
 5. The extension of claim 3 wherein said annular-shaped metallic member is provided with an annular-shaped hollow interior space surrounding its central opening and having inlet and outlet ports to enable the passage of a coolant therethrough.
 6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said mold is provided with a hollow chamber whose shape conforms generally to the opening in said mold and surrounding the opening of said mold and having inlet and outlet ports to permit a coolant to be passed therethrough. 